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Leslie Lake

Leslie Lake

July 11, 2022
Leslie Lake covers Bradenton Beach, Cortez, the environment and Anna Maria Elementary School.
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November 20, 2023
By Leslie Lake
P&Z unanimously recommends approval of hotel project

P&Z recommends approval of hotel project

BRADENTON BEACH – It’s all in the hands of city commission­ers now. Following a unanimous recom­mendation for approval from the city Planning and Zoning Board, the future of a 106-room hotel/resta…
November 20, 2023
By Leslie Lake
Commissioners review hotel project

Commissioners review hotel project

BRADENTON BEACH – A 6.5-hour city commission public hearing on Nov. 16 for a proposed hotel/restaurant/retail project on Bridge Street and Gulf Drive led to warnings that something more impactful cou…
November 20, 2023
By Leslie Lake
Christmas tree lights up Bridge Street

Christmas tree lights up Bridge Street

BRADENTON BEACH – The Christmas season officially began on Bridge Street with the Nov. 18 lighting of the city Christmas tree. Prior to the event, the Magic of Manatee chapter of the Sweet Adeline…
November 13, 2023
By Leslie Lake
County plans tree removal in Manatee Avenue medians

County plans tree removal in Manatee Avenue medians

BRADENTON – Eighteen trees that were installed in medians in 2006 on Manatee Avenue, using Bradenton Tree Funds, state grants and private donations, are slated for removal by Manatee County. Ingri…
November 13, 2023
By Leslie Lake
Birdie for the Birdies tournament to benefit Wildlife Inc.

Birdie for the Birdies tournament to benefit Wildlife Inc.

BRADENTON BEACH – 2023 has been a challenging year for Wildlife Education and Reha­bilitation Center Inc. and a local business is stepping up to help. With a record number of animals rehabilitated…
November 13, 2023
By Leslie Lake
Stone Crab Festival draws crowd to Cortez

Stone Crab Festival draws crowd to Cortez

CORTEZ – The stone crab harvest season was celebrated under sunny skies at the two-day 11th Annual Cortez Stone Crab and Music Festival. Held on Nov. 11-12 at the Swordfish Grill and Tiki Bar park…
November 13, 2023
By Leslie Lake
Candy cane-making tradition will be demonstrated at Fudge Factory

Candy cane-making tradition will be demonstrated at Fudge Factory

BRADENTON BEACH – A sweet holiday tradition that began with Peter Vriner’s grandfather in 1898 in Champaign, Illinois lives on in Bradenton Beach. Using his grandfather’s recipe and original equip…
November 13, 2023
By Leslie Lake
Christmas tree lighting to spark holiday season

Christmas tree lighting to spark holiday season

BRADENTON BEACH – The Christmas season will be sparked with the illumination of more than 20,000 lights on a 42’ Christmas tree on Saturday, Nov. 18. The Light Up Bridge Street family event from 5…
November 13, 2023
By Leslie Lake
P&Z board approves hotel project

P&Z board approves hotel project

BRADENTON BEACH – In the second Planning and Zoning Board public hearing on a proposed 106-room hotel project, the board today unanimously recommended that Bradenton Beach commissioners approve the p…
November 7, 2023
By Leslie Lake

More than $3.5 million approved for manatees, red tide research

WASHINGTON – Federal funding is coming to Florida to support two environmental initiatives critical to the state – the protection of manatees and harmful algal bloom research. A press release from C…
November 7, 2023
By Leslie Lake
FISH Preserve opens officially with ribbon-cutting

FISH Preserve opens officially with ribbon-cutting

CORTEZ – In the culmination of more than two decades of planning, fundraising and hard work, the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the FISH Preserve on Nov…
November 7, 2023
By Leslie Lake
Bridge Street hotel prompts public opposition

Bridge Street hotel prompts public opposition

BRADENTON BEACH – A long-awaited public hearing by the Planning and Zoning Board on a proposed 106-room hotel at the intersection of Bridge Street and Gulf Drive South brought an overflow crowd to ci…
November 6, 2023
By Leslie Lake

Where’s Suzi?

In the Sea Turtle Conservancy’s Tour de Turtles race, which ended on Nov. 1, loggerhead sea turtle Suzi finished in fifth place in a field of 11 sea turtles, having traveled 1,355 miles. Sea turtle B…
November 1, 2023
By Leslie Lake
Stone Crab Festival a cracking good time

Stone Crab Festival a cracking good time

CORTEZ – The stone crab harvest is being celebrated in a big way at an annual festival in the historic fishing village. The 11th Annual Cortez Stone Crab and Music Festival will be held at the Sword…
November 1, 2023
By Leslie Lake
FISH Preserve opens this week

FISH Preserve opens this week

CORTEZ – The vision that FISH (Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage) members had more than 20 years ago to preserve the environmental integrity of coastal land on Sarasota Bay has come to fruitio…